In year 2000, Mengkabong River Bridge (or Jambatan Gayang) is constructed to connect both sides of the Mengkabong River in Tuaran. Probably a bonus by accident, this longest bridge of Sabah also connects us to the perfect sunrise view of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain of Malaysia. When motorists cross this bridge, they would have a 330+ Metres (1,080 ft) of enjoyable ride because of the beautiful scenery.
Mengkabong River Bridge is a popular photography spot for Sabah sunrise
Best Sunrise View of Mount Kinabalu
Mengkabong River Bridge is a landmark and attraction well-known among Sabahans, who have seen its amazing sunrise photos many times in photography contest, tourism calendar, social media, etc. The high vantage point of Mengkabong River Bridge allows photographers to fit Mount Kinabalu, sunrise, rolling hills, mangrove forest and river into one frame.
Breathtaking sunrise over Mount Kinabalu at Mengkabong River Bridge
In most days you have a good chance of seeing Mount Kinabalu in the morning. Just standby on the bridge by 5:30am or earlier, before sunrise starts between 5:59am and 6:33am. The sun rises from different spots in different time of the year, creating more variation of sunrise view. I did a Facebook Live Stream there for fun too.
My camera and tripod on the bridgeAnother sunrise shot of Mount Kinabalu at Mengkabong
Fishing and Mangrove
Mengkabong River is an estuarine fish habitats where fresh water from river mixes with the saltwater from the South China Sea only 2 Kilometres away. The lush mangrove forest and brackish water of this river provide important feeding, spawning and nursery sites for some palatable marine fishes. Crabs and prawns grow bigger in such environment too.
Mengkabong River is where saltwater and freshwater meet. Crabs and prawns grow well in such brackish water.
During high tide, sea fishes follow the current to forage in Mengkabong River. Therefore, the bridge becomes a hot area to catch high-valued marine fishes such as barracuda, snapper, grouper, sea brass (selunsung / siakap), trevallies and Jack fish. Local anglers love to erect a few fishing rods at the jetties under the bridge.
Mengkabong River Bridge is over 300 Metres long. Note the jetties and fishing platforms at lower left and the floating fish farm at the right.
Before sunrise, the fishermen from nearby water villages has started their day fishing in Mengkabong River. You can bargain with them and buy their fresh caught for a good price on the spot.
Mengkabong River is a famous fishing spot. You can pay a small fee to use the sheltered fishing platform at the jetty.
Do take some moment to appreciate the mangrove forest in the river there. The net fisheries contribution from 1 ha of mangrove forest amounted to US$846 year (RM3,500 per year). According to a study by Omar et al, in 2017, Sabah had about 378,195 hectares of mangroves which covered about 60 per cent of total mangrove areas in Malaysia (and 7.6 percent of the global mangroves)!
You can buy fresh seafood from the fishermen on the spot in Mengkabong River. The tiger prawn is sold for RM15 each.
Firefly and proboscis monkey, the residents of mangrove wetlands in Borneo, also attract thousands of tourists and generate a lot of income for Sabah every year. Mangrove forest are really our money trees.
Note: There might be crocodile around there, so do not wander mindlessly on the river bank or swim in the river.
Cycling
Cycling is a popular sport of Sabah now, thanks to our scenic countryside. Mengkabong River Bridge is one of the favourite routes of cyclists, without doubt, is due to the spectacular sunrise.
Mengkabong River Bridge is a busy cycling route in the morning
Hundred of cyclists cross this bridge every morning. They would get off their bicycle in the middle of the bridge and selfie with Mount Kinabalu, to show the world how beautiful their lives are.
You have a good chance of seeing Mount Kinabalu from the bridge if the weather is goodThe view of Mount Kinabalu is the highlight for cyclists here
Sunset Tour
If the sunlight is strong, you could have a nice sunset view of Mengkabong River after 6pm, with the sky of Mount Kinabalu being illuminated by pinkish or reddish color of sunset from opposite side, a phenomenon called alpenglow. The colors are less intense but a preference for those who are not early bird and always miss the sunrise.
Large area of mangrove trees in Mengkabong River
Personally I would recommend you to join the sunset tour below that can send you to Dalit Beach at river mouth of Mengkabong River for a magnificient sunset view. (This is not a sponsored post. I don’t get paid to promote this.) This tour is managed by Kinabalu Heritage Tours, a licensed travel agent owned by my friend.
Tour Package: Mengkabong Fireflies & Sunset River Cruise with BBQ Seafood Dinner
Mount Kinabalu and the mangrove forest of Mengkabong
Tour Info & Activities
Mengkabong Village is part of the Tuaran district and home of the Bajau Sea Gypsies Malay Fishing Village. Experience the memorable and educational river tour about the importance of Mangrove forest with beautiful natural scenery along the river where water streams peacefully and see sea real-life one of our famous indigenous tribe Bajau fisherman lifestyle who still live in water village (i.e. house build on stilts and connected by narrow wooden planks) formerly known as the Sea Gypsies. Experience our local ways of crab catching activities during the cruise and visit the local Oyster and Fish Farm before heading to the river mouth to catch the spectacular view of sunset on the white sandy beach. After the tour, enjoy our BBQ SEAFOOD Dinner before returning to your respective home.
River cruise by boat
Crab catching
Dinner
Visit fish farm
Oyster
Photos of the tour activities (by Kinabalu Heritage Tours)
Tour Fare Inclusive: Land Transport, River Cruise, Fun Fishing using hand lines, Crab Catching, High Tea, Dinner and English Speaking licensed tourist guide
Promotion Rate!!! RM50 per person (Minimum 4 people). Rate is valid until 31 Dec 2021. You can book now travel later.
Tourists watching sunset at Dalit Beach, where Mengkabong River meets the sea
The tour is on deep discount now. I’ve taken the tour before. It’s fun and I even saw “Blue Tears” (Bioluminescent Sea) in the river. The sea water glowed when it’s disturbed by a wave breaking or a splash in the water by our boat at night.
The following is their contact for booking tour: Hotline:+60 13-6068333 (Whatsapp available) Company: Kinabalu Heritage Tours & Car Rental Sdn. Bhd. KKKP/PLN (Tour License No.): 5189 (683895-A) Address: Lot E–2-7, Block E, 2nd Floor, Tanjung Aru Plaza, Jalan Mat Salleh, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Phone:+60 88–318311 E-mail:info@sabahborneotours.com Facebook:KinabaluHeritageTours
Fiery sunset at the river mouth of Mengkabong River
How to get there?
Mengkabong River Bridge is about 29 Kilometres away from Kota Kinabalu City (KK) and highly accessible by highway (about 35 minutes by car). The bridge is never closed, so you can visit anytime, and you don’t need a tour company to bring you there. Just depart from KK at 5am, set your destination as “Mengkabong River Bridge” in Waze, Google Map or other navigation apps.
View of Mount Kinabalu from Dalit Beach, at the end of Mengkabong River
Once you arrive, park your car at roadside before or after the bridge, and walk up to this bridge. There are lampposts on the bridge to lit the way. The 5-feet-wide pedestrian lane on the bridge can keep you safe from busy traffic, but always keep an eye on incoming bicycles that use the same space as cycling lane.
After sunrise, you can drop by Tuaran town nearby to have the famous Tuaran Fried Noodle as breakfast. Please note the highway from Tuaran to KK is quite congested when people rush to work in the morning of weekdays. It’s also advisable to check weather forecast of Tuaran in advance, so you won’t waste your time and disappointed by the bad weather. Toilet is available in the building behind the jetties.
Tanjung Aru Beach has one of the most beautiful sunset views in the world, and it is also the most photographed beach of Sabah. Situated between Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), this 2.3-Kilometre-long beach is divided into first, second and third beach. First Beach is the favourite spot where locals and tourists hang around for the wonderful sunset view and a walk on the sandy beach.
Hundreds of locals and tourists gathered at Tanjung Aru Beach for the sunset
8 Cool Things about Tanjung Aru Beach
Allow me to share with you 8 special things about Tanjung Aru Beach, even some locals don’t know.
The famous fire cloud of Tanjung Aru sunset. This photo was taken with mobile phone and not Photoshopped.
Probably KK is located near equator, which receives the most sunlight, and our air is high in humidity but not polluted. Such conditions create fire or flaming cloud during sunset, which is what Tanjung Aru Beach most famous for. The sky, sea and cloud are illuminated by vibrant shades of red, yellow, pink, purple and orange light.
Different colours of Tanjung Aru sunset
Tips for Hunting the Best Sunset
First, you really need some luck, because you have less than 20% chance of seeing a fire cloud sunset. It’s totally up to the weather. Most of the time you would be disappointed by cloudy or rainy days. Even if the weather is good, sunset with golden or orange hue is more common, but still, they are glorious.
“Sunsets are just little glimpses of the golden streets of heaven.”
Usually a sunny and cloudless day produces boring sunset. For a colourful sunset, based on my observation, it is more likely to happen after a rain that fills the air with more moisture and clean up the dust in air. This rain must stop before 4pm and its cloud thin out and disperses to 30% to 50% of cloud cover. If there is no dense cloud at the horizon that blocks the sunlight to project to the cloud during sunset, the cloud and humid air will act as the canvas to paint a magnificent flaming sunset.
Sunset without cloud is a bit boring
Depend on the day of the year, sunset of KK occurs between 5:56pm to 6:34pm (check sunset time here). This is common sense to locals. But in other countries, for example, sunset of England can start as early as 4pm. Just be there before 5:30pm so you won’t miss anything. It takes time to find parking space there during weekends.
Cloudy sunset at third beach of Tanjung Aru
Don’t leave right after the sun sinks below the horizon. Within minutes, another magic moment called afterglow will appear, it’s a broad arch of reddish or pinkish sunlight in the sky that is scattered by fine particulates suspended in the atmosphere. The colors can be very intense.
Ask anyone in KK, both young and old generations, I bet 99% of them had a date at Tanjung Aru Beach before. The sandy beach, pleasing sea breeze, soothing sea waves, rustling pine trees, and the nice view of islands compose a sentimental love song played in your heads. Then a stunning sunset will further fuel the fire in your hearts. Thousands of love stories may have started at this beach.
Tanjung Aru Beach is also a “Pak-Tor” (Dating) place
After sharing the romantic moment, the couples could continue their business in the car. Just kidding, but people do see shaking cars at 3rd beach after dark sometimes. Tanjung Aru Beach is also a renowned location for taking wedding photos. The married couples would bring their children to this beach for a family picnic.
Family enjoys quality time at Tanjung Aru Beach during sunset
3. Prince Philip Park
Prince Philip, who is also known as the Duke of Edinburgh and the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, visited Jesselton (now KK) in 1959. The Prince Philip Park at Tanjung Aru First Beach is named after him to commemorate his first visit to Borneo.
Tanjung Aru is named after the casuarina tree. Casuarina is widely used as a bonsai subject and has a life span of 40 to 50 years.
Did you know that Tanjung Aru is named after the casuarina trees (species: Casuarina equisetifolia) there? In Malay language, Tanjung means Cape and Aru means casuarina tree. The seashore of Tanjung Aru Beach is lined with a belt of shady casuarina trees, some are over half a century old. The common names of casuarina tree include beach casuarina, beach oak, beach pine, whistling tree, horsetail tree, and Australian pine.
The tiny cones of casuarina tree will only germinate in full sun, so casuarinas are the pioneer trees of newly formed sandy beaches.
Casuarina tree is the most common tree in Prince Philip Park. It has needle-like twigs and distinctive cones, and is often planted as a wind break and erosion control in the poor sandy soil along coastline. The wood of casuarina tree can be used for roof shingles, fencing, and it is considered the best firewood in the world.
The beautiful trees in Prince Philip Park of Tanjung Aru Beach
You can find many other types of coastal trees in Prince Philip Park. Though this park is under minimal maintenance, tree huggers will be pleased to spot some special trees, for example, fig trees such as Ficus microcarpa, Ficus caulocarpa and Ficus caulocarpa. A Ficus racemosa tree, or Red River Fig (Local name: Tangkol), same species as the Nunuk Ragang tree, the birth tree of Kadazandusun races in legend, grows in the car park of the Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. Fig tree can fruit throughout the year, so it’s a stable food source for birds and wildlife. To know more, you may visit borneoficus.info (The magnificent fig trees of Tanjung Aru beach).
There are many old trees at Tanjung Aru Second Beach. This is my childhood beach too.
4. Birdwatching Site
You would be surprised to know that Tanjung Aru beach is a great bird watching site for beginners. The lush and dense beach forest there attracts a myriad of birds, especially in flowering and fruiting time. The best time for birding is in early morning.
Blue-napped parrot of Tanjung Aru Beach. They nest in tree holes of casuarina trees.
The most noticeable bird are the noisy Blue-naped parrots (Species: Tanygnathus lucionensis), which make loud and harsh sounds when they see strangers, yes, you. Blue-naped parrots is a pretty green bird that kept by many as pet because of its ability to mimic and repeat common words. They are threatened in the Philippines but find a safe habitat in our beach. About a population of 20 to 30 Blue-naped parrots live in Tanjung Aru Beach, where they can nest in the tree holes of Casuarina trees.
An Oriental pied hornbill attracted by the fig fruit at Tanjung Aru Beach
Another special bird is Oriental Pied Hornbill. Actually they live in Gaya Island but attracted by the fruiting Ficus drupacea. Before the Second World War, Pied Hornbills were common at Tanjung Aru Beach. In migratory months (Sep to Jan), rare visitors such as Chinese egret and Honey Buzzard would land in Tanjung Aru Beach.
Birds of Tanjung Aru Beach. From top to bottom, left to right: Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Copper-throated Sunbird, Long-tailed Parakeet, and Crested Myna
Other birds you could spot in Tanjung Aru Beach are Crested Myna, Dollarbird, Munia, Collared Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Java Sparrow, Sunbird, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Long-tailed Parakeet, Spotted Dove, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Green Imperial Pigeon, etc. Do bring a binocular to the beach for a National Geographic experience.
5. Residents on the Beach
Tanjung Aru Beach is part of wild nature, and parents always have problem to answer their kids what they see on the beach. For those who take a stroll on the beach, it’s hard not to notice millions of tiny sand balls on the wet sand, and dozens of critters running into burrows whenever you approach. This is the work of tiny ball-shaped sand bubbler crab (Species: Scopimera globosa), which is only 1 to 1.5cm in size and commonly seen on sandy shores.
Piles of tiny sand balls made by sand bubbler crabs. The crabs work radially from the entrance to their burrows. The tiny sand balls are processed sand.
The sand bubbler crab feeds on the detritus and plankton in sand grains. They scoop the sand to their mouthparts with pincers, filter the edible particles and discard the sifted sand as pellets balls piled up on both side of its feeding path near the burrow.
Ok, you might not be so interested in sand bubbler crab because they are not food. Time to introduce a delicious seafood buried under the sand of Tanjung Aru Beach. It’s locally known as sapak clam (沙白蚬 or 沙白螺 in Chinese), Kunau, or Dalus. Its scientific name is Meretrix meretrix (Common Name: Asiatic hard clam).
Locals harvest the Meretrix / Sapak clams in the sand of Tanjung Aru Beach. This clam is a delicious seafood.
This clam has smooth and ceramic-like thick shells, mostly in white or brown colour. It is one of the favourite seafood for locals and tourists because of its tender meat and rich flavors. You can cook it in soup, or fry it with ginger and Chinese wine. Meretrix clam is easy to catch. However, it’s a filter feeder, so the one harvested from the polluted shore would contain heavy metals (not recommended for pregnant women), it’s also a banned seafood during red tide (toxic algae blooming).
Left: Tanjung Aru Second Beach during low tide. Right: Excreted deposit from a sand worm (lugworm)
During low tide in Tanjung Aru Beach, you would find marine lives such as octopus, starfish, sand dollar and jellyfish stranded in tide pools, besides anemone and corals.
6. Standup Paddleboarding (SUP)
The islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park shield the sea from strong waves so the water is relatively calm at Tanjung Aru Beach. I recommended you to try Standup Paddleboarding (SUP), a fun way to view the sunset. According to a SUP trainer, there is a sand bar out in the sea (near Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa) where you can reach Tanjung Aru Reef, with many good quality corals growing around. Nemo also lives there.
Sunset stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at Tanjung Aru Beach
The 2-hour sunset SUP session starts at 5pm and cost about RM120 (about USD30) per person. You can contact Borneo Paddle Monkeys to book the session. Below is their contact: Website:www.borneopaddlemonkeys.com Facebook:BorneoPaddleMonkeys Location: Kinabalu Yacht Club, Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu E-mail:borneopaddlemonkeys@gmail.com Tel / WhatsApp:+60 17-8172001 WeChat and KakaoTalk ID: nickboura
7. Pokémon GO (Mobile AR Game)
Pokémon GO (mobile game) took the world by storm in 2016. From Aug 2016 to 2017, Tanjung Aru Beach was a hot spot to play Pokemon GO because it’s the best hunting spot for rare Pokémon such as Pikachu, Lapras and Dratini. During peak time, hundreds of players flooded the beach every day until 2am morning. I was also one of the hardcore players. You have no idea how thrilled I was when I caught my first Lapras and shiny Magikarp there. My fingers were shaking when I threw Poké Balls to catch them.
Pikachu and shiny Magikarp caught at Tanjung Aru First Beach
Though the Pokémon fever is fading, I still miss the good old time grinding at Tanjung Aru Beach. Now there are five EX Raid Gym within 500-Metre radius of Tanjung Aru Beach. This turns Tanjung Aru Beach into a war zone for players who want to get an invitation to fight and catch Mewtwo, one of the strongest Pokémon.
PokéStop and Gym of Tanjung Aru Beach. The shiny Lapras is my buddy.
8. Food Stalls
In late afternoon, Tanjung Aru First Beach turns into a bustling places where people shop for local snacks and drink such as coconut juice, lekor crackers, steamed peanut, sweet corn, coconut juice, satay and chicken wing from the makeshift open market, as if they are buying popcorn before the movie, in this case, sunset.
How to get there
Tanjung Aru Beach is only 6 KM away from Kota Kinabalu city and highly accessible. The GPS location of the First Beach is 5.947860267578396, 116.0465472827347 (view Location Map or Street View). You can drive there with the aid of navigation mobile apps such as Waze and Google Map (set Where to as “Tanjung Aru First Beach”). You can hire a Grab driver with your smartphone too.
Layout and concept of Tanjung Aru Eco Development project
TAED promises that 25.5% of the total land area (348.14 hectares) will be allocated as free public space, where we can access or enjoy, to list a few, double-sized Prince Philip Park with rainforest theme, Prince Philip Wharf, a larger and rejuvenated beach, cycling track, beachfront park, canal boardwalk, and canal basin. Sound like a good deal. I only don’t like the proposed 18-hole golf course, which has nothing to do with “eco”.
Photos from the Tanjung Aru Beach before food court was removed
Tanjung Aru Beach belongs to everyone, personally I don’t oppose any development that will benefit the locals and environment. Tanjung Aru Beach doesn’t deserve to look like an underdeveloped beach of third world, consider it brings in so many international tourist$. Anyway, hope the facelift will make Tanjung Aru Beach the pride and joy of Sabahans.
Photos taken in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
River cruise in mangrove forest is one of the most popular tours in Sabah. Normally tourists pay about MYR200 to see long-nosed monkey, sunset and fireflies in wetlands of Klias, Weston or Kota Belud.
Sambah River Cruise
FYI you can see these in Tenghilan (in Tuaran district) for about half of the price (MYR80), but without wildlife such as proboscis monkey. Anyway, its advantages are: (1) the destination is less than an hour drive from Kota Kinabalu City (KK), (2) You will have a chance to sample a delicious snack called Udang Salai (Smoked Shrimps).
Udang Salai (Smoked Shrimps) is a special product of Sambah Village
This tour is named Sambah River Cruise because it is based in Kampung Sambah (Kampung means Village in Malay language). Before the river cruise, my group was invited to the house of David (our host) in Kampung Bunga, where welcoming drink and light refreshment were served, and an introduction about the trip was given.
Briefing at Kampung Bunga, Tenghilan
Then we moved to the jetty in Kampung Nouga (GPS: 6.233895, 116.307495) around 5pm to start our first river cruise in mangrove forest.
Jetty in Kampung Nouga, Tenghilan
Mangrove Forest
As part of the Sulaman Lake, this wetland has been a fishing zone. If you are an avid angler, you can request them to include fishing as part of the activities.
Mangrove is the breeding place for seafood.
Technically this swamp is a lagoon as it is directly connected to the sea via a channel. During high tide, fishes such as grouper follow the sea current to enter this mangrove to forage and breed, so it’s not uncommon that you can catch very big fish here.
The river cruises are between 5pm to 8:00pm
Tuaran has one of the best mangrove forest near KK. The area we visited was mostly intact and large. The brackish water may look dirty, but crabs and prawns grow faster and fatter in such environment. The mudflat of mangrove is also the best place to harvest clams.
Navigate in maze of mangrove forest
Located between sea and river, mangrove swamp is one of the most peculiar forest in the world. The trees can grow in the water and tolerant to saline water, and they breathe with roots. Living among the trees are some weird animals such as the walking and jumping fish, mud-skipper and colorful fiddler crabs with huge pincer.
Approaching Kampung Sambah, a fishing village
Our boat navigated in a maze of mangrove forest network. The panoramic view of lush mangrove forest is impressive. Some trees grow over 10 Meters. I think Sabah Wildlife Department can bring in some proboscis monkey families. I’m sure they can live happily here.
Group photo at jetty of Kampung Sambah village
59% of the mangrove forest of Malaysia is located in Sabah. Do you know Sabah has both the smallest (KK Wetland) and largest (Kinabatangan) Ramsar sites of Malaysia? Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated of international importance in terms of conservation, ecology and biodiversity.
Kampung Sambah is a small fishing village next to Sulaman Lake of Tuaran
Udang Salai (Smoked Shrimps)
Around 5:30pm, we arrived Kampung Sambah, a water village next to the lake.
The tour includes a stroll in Kampung Sambah Village
The houses in Kampung Sambah are on stilt to avoid flood and high tide
We took a walk in the village, which has a population of 200 of mainly Bajau people. Most of them live in wooden houses on stilt on the mudflat of mangrove, a typical view of fishermen village in Sabah.
Smoke House for making Smoked Shrimps (Udang Salai)
Only two villages, Kampung Sambah and Kampung Penimbawan, produce Smoked Shrimps (Udang Salai)
However, this ordinary village has an extraordinary snack called Udang Salai (Smoked Shrimps). Believe me. The taste of Udang Salai is unforgettable. Once you try it, you would crave for it occasionally.
The burning wood gives Smoked Shrimps (Udang Salai) very nice aroma
Shrimps are abundant in this area. Only fresh shrimps (no frozen shrimp) are used in making Udang Salai.
Udang Salai (Smoked Shrimps) is one of the tastiest Sabah snack I’ve ever tried
They have a simple small hut with wood burning stove to smoke the shrimps. The small shrimps are placed on mesh wire above the burning wood and being smoked until they are totally dry and cooked. The taste is yummy and crunchy with nice barbecue flavor. Even the shell is edible. You can’t stop once you start eating it.
A small pack of Udang Salai can cost about MYR30
Sambah Village is one of the largest producers of Udang Salai, apart from its neighbors Kampung Penimbawan in Tuaran. Smoked shrimps are sold at tamu (morning open market) of Tenghilan on Thursday and Tuaran on Sunday. It’s always sold out before 8am.
You can buy Smoked Shrimps (Udang Salai) in weekly open market (tamu) of Tenghilan (Thu) and Tuaran (Sun)
Sunset & Firefly
Though I wanted to stay back to eat more Udang Salai, we had to start our second river cruise at 6:10pm.
Departing for sunset and firefly cruise
Waiting for the magic hour of sunset
Soon our boat approached the estuary, where we could see the sun started sinking into the ocean. The blazing sun ray gradually turned into warm and golden beam, marking the start of twilight.
See the love shape cloud?
WOW!!!
The sunset view was hypnotizing. Even though it rained earlier, the extra moisture in the air is the recipe for making of a beautiful sunset. The colors of the sky and cloud went wild and intense, and we were lucky to see the famous flaming sunset of Sabah.
Spectacular sunset at Tenghilan
After the sunset, our boat cruised slowly in the total darkness in mangrove. We saw some congregating fireflies flashing on the mangrove tree like summer Xmas tree. The density and scale of fireflies here are small, but good enough for people who never see firefly.
Dinner at the end of tour, rice with fried chicken, crabs, mixed vegetables and some fruits
Fresh crabs from the mangrove
The river cruise ended around 7:30pm and we enjoyed our dinner at David’s house.
How to get there
This destination is less than 50 Kilometers from KK. The tour operator can pick you up at your hotel. The fee is about MYR80 (about USD$20) per person for this half-day tour (3:30pm-8:30pm).
Sunset is the most beautiful view of nature, and feeling rich and romantic are the two best life experience. Isn’t that exciting if we can enjoy all these at once in sunset cruise?
10 years ago, people didn’t get it why they need to go to open sea to watch sunset. Now sunset cruise is on the bucket list of many because of the following five reasons. I use a lot of photos of North Borneo Cruises here because they offer the best experience.
1. World-Class Sunset
Not all sunsets are the same. We had been taking our beautiful sunset for granted, until 3 years ago, a foreign writer featured Kota Kinabalu City (KK), capital of Sabah as one of the great places to watch sunset in a popular website.
Fire cloud of Sabah sunset
Sabah is famous for its vibrant “Fire Cloud” sunset, a phenomena when the sinking sun photoshops the sky and cloud with intense red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple colors.
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully. ? Kristen Butler
During magic hour, you would see hundreds of people congregate at our beaches to watch sunset and take photos. And now you can find “sunset bar” in many resorts and hotels of Sabah.
Beautiful sunset at Kota Kinabalu Islands Park
Tourists enjoying the sunset view on North Borneo Cruises
Actually beach and hilltop are only the second best location to watch sunset. The Best Viewpoint for Sunset is in open sea, it’s like getting a front seat for a spectacular stage show.
Sunset with panoramic ocean views
2. Feeling Rich
Most of us would never make enough money to buy a yacht, but I’m sure we all want to know how it feels to ride on a luxurious yacht. No doubt you will feel super rich on the 92-feet yacht of North Borneo Cruises.
Sunset cruise by North Borneo Cruises. Note it has 3 decks
With a maximum capacity of 100 people, North Borneo Cruises can host fairly big private function such as wedding, birthday, party and corporate dinner.
Guests enjoying the moment onboard
Your staffs will love you if you throw a company party on-board. This is far more fun and creative than a formal dinner in hotel.
Sunsets are just little glimpses of the Golden streets of Heaven…
VIP Room of North Borneo Cruises
Want more upper-class feel? VIP Deck boasts a private room equipped with a Karaoke audio and visual sound system best suited for birthday parties and business meetings of up to 30 people. The interior is decorated with motif of Borneos indigenous tribe.
Spacious and comfortable lower deck area of North Borneo Cruises
The crews of North Borneo Cruises are friendly and treat us like a VIP. On this big yacht, we don’t need to fight for space with throngs of noisy tourists.
It’s hard not to get excited on a yacht
3. It is Romantic
Lovely sunset moment is best shared with your special someone. According to the “Love’s To-Do List”, watching sunset together is the most romantic thing couples do, followed by candlelit dinner.
Happy sunset time on different boats (left: Sea Tango, right: North Borneo Cruises)
The first stab of love is like a sunset, a blaze of color — oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples… ? Anna Godbersen, The Luxe
Boarding to North Borneo Cruises
You would tend to mimic “Titanic pose” of Rose and Jack. That might be a bit tacky lol.
Though it was a rainy day, it’s still an enjoyable trip
Big yacht is great because it can remain stable in choppy sea, you don’t want your loved one gets seasick and vomit right.
Not all sunsets are the same
Got idea for your next Valentine’s Day or Anniversary? You are welcome. 😉
4. Multi-sensory Enjoyment
Sunset cruise is more than just watching sunset. The tour operator has perfected it by making it a multi-senses experience.
Sunset is the opening music of the night. ? Mehmet Murat ildan
During the cruise, you will have sunset for your eyes, food for your mouth, and music for your ears.
Sunset for your Eyes, Food for your Stomach, and Music for your Ears
Another meaning of sunset is – it is about dinner time lol.
Sumptuous international dinner buffet served onboard
There is live band performance in North Borneo Cruises. Guests are very encouraged to join group dance for fun.
Party onboard with Bamboo Orchestra
If sunset cruise is only about watching sunset, a rainy day can ruin the whole experience, so it’s good that they have other activities on-board.
Group dancing in the yacht
5. Sightseeing without Walking
Another bonus of sunset cruise is – you don’t need to walk to see the beauty of KK City.
Cruising around the islands before sunset
You can admire the panoramic view of KK City from Sabah Port at the left to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at the right. Most landmark building such as Tun Mustapha Tower is in the view. In good day, you even can see Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain of Malaysia.
You can see Kota Kinabalu City from the sea
The yacht will cruise around the most popular tropical island park of Sabah, i.e. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, which consists of five islands.
It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream. ? Bern Williams
Water village on Gaya Island is probably something unique to foreign tourists, they find it interesting that houses, mosque and school are built on the stilt platform on the sea.
Sabah has one of the best sunset views in the world
At the end of the cruise, you would see the mesmerizing city light of KK on the way back, to mark a great ending of the tour.
Sunset Cruise along coastal area of Kota Kinabalu City
How to Join
The sunset cruise of North Borneo Cruises (NBC) starts at 4:50pm and ends around 7pm. Personally I recommend NBC because it’s the best.
(Update (Jul 2015): This activity has stopped until further notice.) Everyone from Kota Kinabalu City (KK) loves Tanjung Aru Beach, a place filled with sunshine and laughters. If Mt. Kinabalu is like our father, Tanjung Aru Beach is an affectionate mother. In late afternoon, many couples, families, picnickers, tourists, joggers and photographers congregate at the beach, and they won’t miss one of the most beautiful sunset of Sabah, which marks a perfect ending to their busy days.
Though a lot of locals walk and frolick on this golden beach, most of them stay away from the inviting seawater as if it is a boundary. However, I have no doubt that they have ever imagined themselves cruising freely on the sea and sailing to the sunset.
People doing pretty much the same things there every day like what our grandparents did 50 years ago. Then in 2014, beachgoers started to see someone “standing” and paddling in the open sea. FYI, it is a fast growing global sport called Standup Paddleboarding (S.U.P in short).
The cool thing about S.U.P is – you can hit the water only after 10 minutes of training, without the need to operate a bulky sailboat or master the skill to maneuver a wobbly windsurfing board.
I’ve tried S.U.P on Sapi Island and like it very much, so I strongly recommend you to experience a different way of enjoying sunset hour in Tanjung Aru Beach.
Paddle Below the Wind conducts sunset S.U.P session at Tanjung Aru First Beach around 4pm almost every day, and you are just a call away to join them (Phone: +60 17-8960341).
You may watch the following video of excited students in S.U.P:
There are Three Good Reasons why you should give Standup Paddleboarding a shot.
1. “Reconnect” with Friends and Nature
Nowadays we are so hyper-connected, we have Facebook, WhatsApp, E-mail, WeChat, Snapchat, Line, Twitter, etc. Ain’t you upset when you gather with friends, but they just busy poking their phones?
We can’t create cherishable moments with friends on social media, we will forget what we say on Facebook shortly, but we won’t forget the time we were doing something fun together. Let’s talk with our mouth, not fingers. Be more likeable by being there for them, not just posting food photo.
Let’s disconnect from virtual world on small screen and see the real beauty of our big world. Feel the sand between your toes and gentle breeze from the ocean.
Pic: the moment before falling into water. It’s just part of the fun.
The one smiling face of your friend is better than 100 smiley emoji in messenger apps, isn’t it? When people type LOL on screen, how many of them are really laughing?
Another nice feature of S.U.P is you can do it in a group, but able to stay close and chat with one another. Everyone has story in Tanjung Aru Beach. What’s yours?
2. Exercise for Fun
For me, I like the idea that exercise keeps me healthy, but most sport is just boring. For example, jogging, the boredom kicks in much sooner than the fatigue. :-p In contrast, stand-up paddle-boarding is super fun and I’m pleased to do it every day. If big waves come, I can even surf. Did you know Tanjung Aru also has very nice corals? You can reach it easily with S.U.P.
Stand-up paddle-boarding is a good exercise for our limbs and abdominal muscles due to constant paddling and balancing. S.U.P may seem very pleasant and relaxing, but you can go as extreme as Justin DeBree, who paddled all the way up from Florida to Georgia (USA) for a total of 676 KM (420 miles) and set the world record for the Longest Stand Up Paddle Board journey. Some adventurers even ride on S.U.P in Arctic expedition.
Pic: you can mount your GoPro camera on S.U.P board
You might be able to paddle from KK to Brunei (remember to bring your passport hehe..) if you are extremely fit and the sea condition is good. Richard, our S.U.P instructor, says we can paddle to Sapi Island in 1.5 hours.
Pic: you can go very far away from shore with S.U.P in just minutes
However, not everyone wants to be an athlete, so you can choose to drift in placid water, just to get in touch with nature and unwind yourselves. In USA, Stand-up paddleboarding had the highest percentage of new participants in 2012. It has become a trendy sport in Australia, USA, Canada, Germany and Australia. Paddle board yoga is also getting popular.
Pic: Paddle Below the Wind also provides kayak
3. Watching Sunset
To break out of monotony, it’s human nature to constantly explore new sources of happiness. You may have already long retired from the age of building sand castle, so Tanjung Aru Beach can’t be a playground to grow-up like you? Wrong.
Why not paddling out to the sea to enjoy the mesmerizing sunset view this time? When was the last time you did something for the First Time? It could be your best day ever in Tanjung Aru Beach.
To release your stress after work, you need to move your body, to detach your mind from work. Then go rinse yourself in the warm seawater, harvest the negative ions in the air and embrace the healing power of nature to detox.
Life is too short. Let’s try different things at least once in a while. You also can try S.U.P with your spouse and kid. They will thank you.
Pic: this sunset group photo will make your other friends envy
One day perhaps the face of Tanjung Aru Beach would change dramatically if Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) takes over the place and develop it into resort area. I don’t know whether that day will come. For now, let’s enjoy what this beloved beach offers. Enough talking, below are more sunset photos for your viewing pleasure.
The S.U.P lesson at Tanjung Aru Beach takes about 1 hour and costs RM80 (≈US$24). The S.U.P session costs RM50 (≈US$15) and RM40 (≈US$12) for adult and kid respectively (No 6% GST tax). Life jackets, stand up paddle board and paddle are provided. Besides training, the instructor will guide you on the sea. They also offer Snorkelling with S.U.P at Sapi Island.
The meeting point is next to the yellow lifeguard building in a small stretch of picnic area near to Kinabalu Yacht Club in Tanjung Aru First Beach.
Sunlight can’t enter a room full of furniture, similarly, we need more spaces sometimes to light up our hearts. That’s why I like the sense of freedom in sunset cruise. The feeling of watching sunset from the vast open sea is very different. On the land, sunset is only a nice background to mark the end of day. On the ocean, you are like an audience standing on the stage of sunset for its magic moment.
Pic: our cruise boat, Hydian Way
Kota Kinabalu City (KK) has nice sunset and our beautiful islands are just a few Kilometers away, so all we need is a boat for the trip. For the New Year Sunset Cruise Gathering, Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society chartered a cruise boat which could accommodate up to 50 people.
Hydian Way looks like a double-decker bus of the sea. It’s a 60-feet passengers cruise boat designed for short distance tour cruise. The lower and upper decks are flat surface with many chairs and tables, so passengers can carry out any activity and enjoy open view of the sea, exactly what we need for a leisure ride. Most area is sheltered from rain and hot sun, another plus.
Pic: lower and upper decks of Hydian Way. The toilet and bathroom are at the rear of lower deck.
We departed around 5pm from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal and headed to the sea and islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Everyone was so excited onboard, we explored around as this was our first time experience on sunset cruise. The boat has an area of 1,500 square feet.
Most seemed to like upper deck better, where we could see the surrounding on higher vantage point and enjoyed the sea breeze. Lower deck is more stable and suitable for those who are prone to seasick. Anyway, the swaying motion wasn’t strong when the boat was moving.
I also walked around to find the best viewpoint. After a while, everyone was settling down and started their romantic or family time.
Pic: our boat leaving KK and head to the sun!
Pic: a cruise ship in Sabah Port. I wonder how it feels to see sunset from that huge ship.
It had been raining in past few days, we didn’t know if the sunset view would be nice. The sky was cloudy, so I didn’t expect a spectacular sunset. As long as it didn’t rain, I was happy.
Even if the sunset wasn’t nice, we still had nice food onboard. Yeah, check out that BBQ lamb, it’s the one of the highlight man.
Everyone’s spirit is high. For company annual dinner, you may consider organizing a sunset cruise party. Conventional dinner in hotel is just boring and everyone wants to leave after meal.
Pic: the sunset is about to start. When the sun moved closer to the horizon, the sea water turned into silvery blue, an interesting color that only can be seen from open sea.
Then the boat brought us behind Sapi Island, where we could snorkel (snorkelling gears provided onboard). It was a bit cool probably due to the recent rainy season, so only one person doing it. Just to let you know that you can have this activity, and the boat can take you to snorkelling spot far away from crowded tourist area. If it was a hot day, I would take a swim.
Our barbecue chicken wings and satay were ready, just in time for the sunset. With free flow of soft drink, it couldn’t be better.
Pic: satay for the sunset!
Pic: more BBQ food. Wish you were there.
We were so happy about the exceptional view of sunset. In fact, we thought of postponing the trip because of the possible bad weather, now we have no regret.
Alex, the owner of the boat, was happy too. We were the only group on the open sea that day, this sunset view was exclusively for us.
We were busy taking and posting sunset photos to our Facebook. Some even updated their profile photos with sunset as background. Bet these photos got many likes and made their friends envious.
Pic: the magic moment with the most intense colors, cloud and sea were painted with rosy colors but only lasted a few minutes.
After the sunset was over, our boat moved further and anchored in open sea for next activity, fishing. The crews had prepared fishing rods and bait for us.
We caught a few snapper and grouper. However, the fishes were too small, so we released them back into the sea after photo taking. If we were lucky, we would have BBQ fishes.
Though we have no BBQ fish, there’s something better waiting for us. Our BBQ lamb is ready. We started second round of feasting. The lamb was roasted slowly, so the meat was kept juicy inside, very yummy.
For buffet dinner, we also had fried noodles, curry chicken, butter prawns, mixed vegetables, salad and sweet & sour fish. The BBQ just now was more like high tea lol.
Our eyes and mouth were satisfied, next it’s the turn for our ears. Let’s have some music. The boat has karaoke set in lower deck, so you can show your talent. Your voice will be broadcast to upper deck too, so nobody could escape from your performance, unless they jump into the sea. Sing as loud as you can, because there no neighbour will complain you.
We had fun until 8:30pm, then we had to go home at last. Watching night view of KK city is the last part of our trip. The bustling KK looks like a sleepy city from a distance.
Instead of heading straight to the port, our boat cruised slowly along the shoreline of KK, to have closer look of KK city night.
To be honest, though lovely, the night view of KK is not as magnificent as big cities. Anyway, I don’t see this every day, so I still enjoy the moment.
Pic: Le Meridien Hotel and Sinsuran Night Market are the brightest section of the KK night view.
Pic: Sinsuran Night Market with busy hawkers and customers. Guess they didn’t know they were being watched.
Pic: KK Waterfront Esplanade won my award as the most colorful night view of KK, haha.
Overall, this is a delightful trip and a luxury to me, who spend most of my time living and working in a world as small as an office cubicle and bedroom. I bet you will enjoy such tour.
Pic: 40 passengers and 40 happy faces
Joining a Sunset Cruise
You can either join a tour or organize a party yourselves. The following are the packages and prices for tours by Hydian Way (as of Jan 2015). You can download their brochure for full details.
Type of Tour
Activities
Fee
Morning Cruise (10am-2pm)
Snorkeling, Fishing, Lunch with free flow of drinks
RM249 per person (≈US$70)
Sunset Cruise (5pm-7pm)
Night Cityscape, Sunset Viewing, Refreshments
RM199 per person (≈US$56)
Sunset Cruise with Fishing (4pm-8pm)
Fishing, Night Cityscape, Sunset Viewing, Refreshments
RM249 per person (≈US$70)
Private Chartered
Customized Hydian Way can host up to 50 people (30 would be the most comfortable size)
Rental Fee: RM2,500 to RM5,000 (≈US$700 to 1,400) for 4 hours
For booking and enquiry, please contact Huang Long Travel & Tour (皇龙旅行社) at: E-mail:info.hydianway@gmail.com Tel:: +60 16-557-0211 (Terita – Marketing Manager), +60 13-863-1982 (Melessa – Sales Manager) Address: Ground Floor, Premier Golf Center, Jalan Istiadat, Kompleks Sukan Likas, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
More Photos
The photos in this article are small. You may browse my photo album for bigger and better photos:
Related Posts
I had tried sunset cruise with different types of boats too. You may check them out and compare the experience:
Kota Kinabalu city (KK) has one of the best sunset views in the world. Some tourists even nickname KK as the Sunset City. Being a local who has been enjoying free sunset, a recent visit to Sky Blu Bar made me realized that being at the right place with the right people could give you a far better “sunset experience.”
I don’t work for Grandis Hotel, the owner of Sky Blu Bar. The discovery of Sky Blu Bar is by accident. Last week I was dragged by my friends to this place after a conference. Actually I was reluctant to go because my stomach was still full of hotel food. Grandis Hotel is in Suria Sabah Shopping Mall. We took the elevator to its roof top. The sun just started to sink and I was stunned by the view.
Our first reaction is to rush to take photos of the golden sunset. The view of sunset is not the same in different locations of KK. In most places, the view is obstructed by hill, trees, tall building or electrical wires. Sky Blu Bar is on 13th floor, a high point that allows my sight totally filled with panoramic view of sunset, sea and islands.
Sky Blu Bar is quite new but most of the best seats were occupied and we were lucky to find a seat. Though I wish I can keep this place as a secret, I’m sure it’ll become a hot spot in KK city centre very soon when many visitors show off their selfie with such killer view in social media. Hope other KK hotels with tall building will construct sunset bars too.
Besides South China Sea and Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, from there, you can see KK city at your left and Sabah port at your right.
Pic: sunset over Manukan Island, with the sea gleamed with warm sunlight. The sinking point varies throughout the year.
Pic: another sunset photo taken in different day.
Sabah is in tropical region so sunny weather is not always guaranteed every day. You only have 40% to 50% chance of seeing the orange yolk dipping into the ocean. In other times, it is covered by dense cloud. In short, you need luck.
Pic: the reflection of sunset on the glass table top
After the sunset was over, people turned their head to the plate and enjoyed the dinner with purple-tinged sky at the background
There are 80 seats on first come first serve basis, so you better be there earlier to grab a spot for best sunset view.
There are two sections. The open space with about 30 seats offers the best view of the sea and sunset, but it is exposed to rain and sunlight. It is also quite dim after dark. I asked for candle but they said they didn’t have it (really?). You may need to bring your own candle if you plan to have a romantic candlelight dinner.
Another section is under the roof and close to a bar. They also play pop songs music to create more lively ambience.
Pic: a corner where you can see sunset and city night views
There are two swimming pools next to the bar, one for adult and another one for children (about 0.6 Meter in depth)
Food & Drink
I’m impressed with the variety of food & beverages at Sky Blu Bar. The price is quite affordable too. A set dish, which comes with drink, costs about RM35 (≈US$11). If you order only food or non-alcoholic drink, most cost less than RM20 (≈US$6.50). The bar also has Happy Hours rate.
Pic: chicken and beef satay, tender and delicious
You can order finger food or stomach filler. Just to name some: salad (from RM13, ≈US$4), seafood (from RM13), pasta (from RM17, ≈US$5), burger, noodle, satay (skewer), dessert (from RM15, ≈US$4.60), etc.
I was quite happy with their food and had couple of beer. It’s really a wonderful feeling to be there with my friends.
For drink, there are beer, cocktail (from RM23, ≈US$7), mocktail (from RM17, ≈US$5), fruit juice (from RM13, ≈US$4), red/white wine (from RM23 per glass), champagne (from RM318, ≈US$97), whisky (from RM13), Vodka, RUM, Tequila, etc. Yes, tea, coffee and soft drink are available too (from RM12, ≈US$3.70). Want the most expensive liquor? Order Hennessy XO for RM1,283 (≈US$392).
*price is inclusive of government tax and well, you know, subject to change in future
More Info
Sky Blu Bar is located on 13th floor / roof top (they name it “R” floor) of Grandis Hotels & Resorts. The bar opens from 11am to 12am every day.
Huffington Post says Sabah has one of the best sunset in the world. I guess there might be a few reasons. The sun looks bigger near equator. Our air is clean for better clarity of sunset view. The high humidity and dense cloud of our tropical climate also help to paint a more colorful and magnificent sky for sunset.
Below are 10 best places to see sunset in Sabah. I had personally visited all these locations. However, you need a bit of luck for seeing a beautiful sunset in good weather.
No. 10. Sutera Harbor
Only 2 KM from Kota Kinabalu city (KK), Sutera Harbor is highly accessible and it is next to 5-star Sutera Harbour Resort.
Unlike the bustling and noisy city, Sutera Harbor is a clean and quiet place for holiday, providing a better ambiance to appreciate sunset.
I rank Sutera Harbor as number 10 because its surrounding man-made structures don’t blend well into nature. I love the port view anyway.
No. 9. Bukit Padang
You need to workout a bit to earn the breath-taking view of sunset on top of Bukit Padang. Bukit Padang is a small hill in the most famous jogging park of KK, Tun Fuad Stephens Park.
Near the start of jogging track around Kampung Nelayan Seafood Restaurant, there is a nature trail that leads you to the top of Bukit Padang.
The uphill trail is a good training site for people who want to climb Mt. Kinabalu. You can see many people here during weekends. Just follow them, walk slowly and you will reach the top in 30 minutes. On top of Bukit Padang, you will have a bird-eye view of KK and the South China Sea.
Please note that there is no street light on the nature trail. You better bring a torchlight if you plan to see sunset and leave in the dark.
No. 8. Waterfront
Some may ask, “Just sunset no beer?” Ok, you may think beautiful sunset should go with beer, then Waterfront is for you. Waterfront is in the heart of KK and a famous Food & Beverage and Night-life center.
When sunset approaches, many tourists and locals congregate on the wooden open space platform facing the sea. There are plenty of choices for food and drink, for example, seafood, cocktail, BBQ lamb, beer, steak, chicken wing, fruit juice, western and Asian food, you name it.
After enjoying the sunset and sea breeze, you can continue your party in pubs and night entertainment centers nearby.
No. 7. Tanjung Aru Beach
If you ask our locals for nice place to see sunset, 99 out of 100 will say Tanjung Aru Beach. To KK folks, Tanjung Aru Beach holds an important place in their memories. Many build their first sand castle or bring their first love here.
Most come there for the sunset. There are some restaurants along the beach so you can dine with the big egg yolk (sunset). Or you can enjoy a cocktail at the Sunset Bar of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort only a KM away.
You can see Sulug and Manukan Islands on South China Sea. After the sunset, you may walk about 200 Meters to Perdana Park nearby to watch Musical Fountain, which starts at 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm and 8:30pm daily.
Above: the famous “fire cloud”, which looks like burning cloud. It usually displays in full intensity a few minutes after the sunset.
No. 6. Pom-Pom Island
Pom-Pom Island is one of the islands of Semporna at east coast of Sabah. Tourists love to spend a holiday in their water bungalow. Pom-Pom is facing Bohey Dulang island at west side.
You can see sunset of Bohey Dulang island from Pom-Pom Island. Legend says there is a beautiful Suluk princess, named Arung Salamiah, hiding on Bohey Dulang.
There is no resident, except resort guests, on Pom-Pom. The whole sandy white beach and sunset of Celebes Sea are totally yours.
No. 5. Tip of Borneo
Located on the northern-most tip of Borneo, the third largest island in the world, Tip of Borneo is the meeting point of two vast oceans, namely, South China Sea and Sulu Sea. Tip of Borneo is frequented by tourists even during daytime, due to its scenic beach and countryside.
However, when most tourists leave before dark, it’s the time The Tip of Borneo shows her true beauty to those who are keen to stay put.
When the sun sinks, the ultra wide sea horizon becomes an infinite stage for the rich colors of sunset, extending over the edges of your eyesight.
No. 4. Maliau Basin
To see how nature goes to sleep, you must visit Maliau Rim Observation Tower of Maliau Basin, in the middle of Sabah.
In contrast to tranquility of sunset, the sunset in this pristine forest reserve is accompanied by numerous bird chirping and animal calls around you. Due to deforestation, such lively rainforest sunset is very rare nowadays.
At the end of the sunset, thick mist covers the forest, like Mother Earth putting a blanket over her land before bedtime. I want to rank Maliau Basin as the BEST sunset site, but its accessibility is poor, you need to drive more than 200 KM on 4-wheel drive to reach this place.
No. 3. Weston River
Weston River is a popular river cruise destination for sighting of firefly and long-nosed monkey. However, it is something else that catches the heart of tourists.
After visiting Weston, almost every tourists will post the sunset photos on their Facebook and Instagram, because it is so breathtaking!
The colors of sunset in Weston is so intense that you can even capture it with low-end phone camera. The sky is painted red and yellow, and these colors are also reflected on the big Weston River.
It’s a sunset with sky, river and trees as canvas, no wonder everyone is crazy about it.
No. 2. Laban Rata
Laban Rata is the mid-way accommodation for climbers of Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain of Malaysia. All climbers stay here for a night, before they conquer the summit next day. During good day, most of them will be rewarded by the sunset above the cloud, which is 3,000 Meters above sea level.
No. 1. Kokol Haven Resort
Alright, I know you can’t wait to see the BEST sunset of Sabah. My favorite place for sunset view is Kokol Haven Resort on Kokol Hill!
Sunset view at Kokol Hill
Kokol Hill is the highest point in KK and it is only 35 KM away from KK. After you pass by Menggatal town, just turn to junction that leads you to St. Joseph Church. Your car will zig-zag on a winding and hilly road for nearly half an hour (for 10 KM) and reach Kokol Haven Resort at 750 Meters above sea level (see Location Map). I was really surprised to find a cooling place (20°C) only 40-minute drive from warm KK city.
Night view of Kota Kinabalu City
The resort is at the edge of Crocker Range Park and surrounded by forested hills. You can see KK city from Kokol Haven Resort. There is a viewing platform with some dining tables. You can eat and drink there while enjoying the sunset view.
Sunset at Kokol Haven Resort
Don’t leave right after the magic moment of sunset. Just wait for a few more minutes to see the mesmerizing city light of KK.
Do you agree with my ranking? You can vote and comment in the list (and even edit it) below. Let’s see if we share the same favourite. 🙂
